Miracle Flaky Lard Pie Crust Recipes

MIRACLE BAKING POWDER PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
• Place 1/2 cup of flour mixture in a small bowl, and stir in water until smooth.
• Cut shortening into remaining flour mixture until it looks like coarse meal. Blend in the flour-water mixture.
• Wrap dough and chill in refrigerator.

CLASSIC LARD TWO-CRUST PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in the lard with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, blending gently with a fork or pastry blender until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the sides of the bowl. Divide the dough in half and shape flattened rounds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

MIRACLE FLAKY LARD PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place a medium mixing bowl in the freezer to chill.
• Place the flour, salt and baking powder in a reclosable gallon-size freezer bag, and whisk them together.
• Using a melon baller, scoop 1/2-1 inch balls of the lard directly into the flour, shaking the bag occasinally to distribute and cover them with the flour.
• If the room is warm and the lard starts getting very soft, place the bag in the freezer for about 10 minutes before proceeding.
• It is is still firm but squishable once it's all been added, using a rolling pin, roll together the lard and flour until the lard is in thin flakes.
• Place the bag in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
• Empty the flour mixture into the cold bowl, scraping the sides of the bag to release all of it.
• Set the bag aside.
• Sprinkle on the ice water and vinegar, tossing gently with a rubber spatula to incorporate it evenly.
• Spoon the mixture back into the plastic bag (if using caul fat, which is softer, the dough will already hold together, so it's easier to empty it out onto a piece of plastic wrap and knead it lightly from the outside of the wrap).
• Holding both ends of the bag opening with your fingers, knead the mixture by alternately pressing it, from the outside of the bag, with the knuckles and heels of your hands until the mixture holds together in one piece and feels slightly stretchy when pulled.
• Sprinkle the dough on both sides with a little whole wheat flour, wrap it with plastic wrap, flatten into a disc, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, preferably overnight.
• STORES refrigerated up to 3 days; frozen, up to 3 months.
• NOTE: When rolling the dough, roll it directly on the counter or on plastic wrap.
• Sprinkle both sides of the dough and the counter or plastic wrap amply with whole wheat flour as needed to keep it from sticking.
• (The whole wheat flour will not toughen it and will give it extra crunch and a lovely, wheaty flavor.) POINTERS FOR SUCCESS: Pay particular attention to temperature, keeping the lard well-chilled.
• When mixing the lard flakes/flour mixture with the liquid, stir gently so as to maintain large flakes of lard.

THE LARD TUB PIE CRUST RECIPE

Steps:

• Check your lard, it should have no smell or taste, if it does, it is probably rancid.
• Get a large size bowl and add your flour and salt.
• Take your cup of lard and put it in the bowl a spoonful at a time.
• Cover the bits of lard with flour from the bowl.
• Cut the lard into the flour with a sturdy pastry cutter (Get one with ridged blades if you can) to pea sized bits.
• Dribble the water into the mixture all at once.
• Use your hand to work the water into the dough, I like to scoop the mixture from the edges and smoosh it in the center of the bowl.
• You are done mixing when the mixture will stick together as a complete blob. It is like making biscuits don't overwork the dough.
• Form a ball and weigh it on a scale, mine weighed about 600 grams.
• You might want to clean your hands for the next step. Get some cellophane wrap ready.
• Divide the ball into three little balls each a third of the total weight of the original (about 200 grams). Wrap the 3 balls in the cellophane wrap. Put in the fridge, ideally for 24 hours, but 4 hours is fine.

MOM'S LARD PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in lard until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle in water, a tablespoon at a time, until pastry holds together. Shape into a ball; chill for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Transfer to a 10-in. pie plate. Flute edges; fill and bake as pie recipe directs.